Pleasant Artistic Experience

The best and worst of Whitehorse, during the Available Light Film Festival, February 2009

Weirdest advertisement at the festival:Telefilm Canada: “Just watch
it.” (You know, like Nike, except Nike dropped that line years ago.)

Best example of eastern European humour in an eastern European film:A
character from Slepé Lásky (directed
by Juraj Lehotský): “We wish you a pleasant artistic experience.”

Best blogging line, by the narrator of the film RIP: A Remix Manifesto, directed by Brett Gaylor, about the mash-up
artist Girl Talk: “He dropped AC/DC in the middle of Black-Eyed Peas. People were blogging
about it for weeks.”

Best synopsis and review of Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny
Boyle and Loveleen Tandan (the film did not play at the festival), heard in a
bar in Whitehorse: “So this kid wins a hundred million rubbles or whatever. The
movie’s based on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?—you know that one? You
know it’s funny to hear it in East Indian. But I got to tell you, it was time
well spent.”

Worst evaluation of Whitehorse, ­uttered by a woman at the screening ofRIP: A Remix Manifesto: “I just pretend I’m somewhere else. You know, we’re in Whitehorse, you do
what you have to, to survive.”

Second-worst evaluation of Whitehorse, uttered by a store clerk during the
purchase of a letter opener made of moose antler: “So, it’s a letter opener or
a weapon of self-defence.” (nervous laughter) “So if you get mugged, you
know what to do.” (stabbing motion) “It’s the Yukon, you never know what
can happen.”

The three weirdest events at the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Festival,
running at the same time as the film festival: axe toss, wife-carrying contest,
and hairiest legs competition (women only).

Best solo played by the guitarist in the military band near the baggage
carousel at the Whitehorse airport: “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Dumbest thing said by a guy with big muscles on flight 525 from Whitehorse to
Vancouver, referring to the exotic dancers flying home from the Sourdough
Rendezvous: “Jesus Christ. Look at that.”